Automatic block signal system



- Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,313

H. ARNDT AUTOMATIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed March 1927 Patented Dec.18, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,695,313 ArsNr OFFICE.

HERE/[ANN ARNDT, OF BERLIN. GERMANY, ASSIGNOR- TO SIEMENS & IIALSKE,AKTIEIhF GESELLSCHAFT, OF SIEMENSS'IADT, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, ACORPORATION OF GER-MANY.

AUTOMATIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Apphcation flied March 1, 1227, Serial No. 171,772, and. in GermanyFebruary 22, 1926.

My invention relates to an automatic block signal system in which the.various signals are given by means of rcundcls in spectacle castings infront of signal lamps.

One object of my invention is to provide means for controlling thesignals by relays in dependence upon the state of the track sections.

A further object of my invention is to provide means of rendering therelays, apart from the state of the section, also dependent upon thestate of the signal of the next block in advance. a

A still further object of my invention is to provide means forprotecting the block by the signal located in the rear, in the event offailure of one of the signals or when the signal lamps go out.

A still further object of my invention is to design the signal lamp insuch a manner that the spectacles can be operated directly by thesection relay appertaining to them..

In order to attain a dependence etween the successive signals of theindividual block sections the apparatus is according to my inventiondesigned in such amanner that when the spectacles of any signalshow redthe auxiliary phase of the rear section relay receives current. It asignal behind the train. remains in the'proceed position the advancesignal is not given clear and thus protects the train. Only when thesignal behind the train passes into the stop position and shows the redroundel does the auxiliary phase of the rear block relay receivecurrent, thus attracting its armature and placing the green roundel infront of the respective lamp in the advance block. Preferably thearrangement should be such that when the red roundel is shown therespective si nal lamp or lamps are connected in series with the relayof the rear block.. The arrangement must be suchthat the roundels aremoved in dependence from the block relay, so that when the relay hasattracted its armature the green roundel. of the spectacles appears infront of the signallamp, but when the armature has dropped OE and thus0n short-circuit of one of the windings of the relay, the red roundelpasses infront of the signal lamp. .l Vhen the relay has responded i. e.when the green round-e1 is in working position, the line leading fromthe signal lamps to the auxiliary winding ofthe rear relay is broken andthe lamps must receive current over another line or ground. This may,for in tance, be attained by providing in the block l ne a contact whichinterrupts the line between the signal lamps and the auxiliary windingwhen the armature of the relay has been attracted and simultaneouslyconnects the lamps to ground, the contact being closed or opened eitherdirectly by the armature of the relay or of the spectacles. Thisdependence of the closing of the contact from the spectacles themselveshas the ad vantage that even when the armature of the relay has droppedcit, but the spectacles are stuck for some reason an operation of therear block relay is rendered impossible. Preferably the arrangement willbe such that the spectacle castings themselves are operated by thearmature of the relay. This may be attained ina particularly simplemanner it elliptic reflectors are employed which require a very smallopening only for the passage of the rays and thus onlysmall spectaclecastings. Such elliptic reflectors are particularly adapted for thepurpose because they also permit of the provision of two sources oflightso that one serves always as standby source of light Without thenecessity of doubling the spectacle mechanism.

The drawings aflixed hereto show diagrammatic representations of anembodiment of my invention byway of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows the state an alternating current systemwhen the train has "entered the middle one of three blocks indicatechandFig. 2, the state of the system when the front portionof the train hasreached the last of the block sections. p

. Like numerals of reference; indicate like parts in both figures of thedrawing.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1, 2 and 3 are three consecutive block sections.The train s ust at the beginning ofthe block section 2. The block 2 isprotected by the signal. 4r, the block 3 by the signal 5. Each otthesignals consists of an elliptic reflector 6, 7 respectively and tworespective sources of light 8, 9 and 10,11 located in'the r'oci of thereflector. Tntront of the openings of the reflectors which for the sakeof clearness are shown in perspective view in the drawing, are locatedthe spectacle castings 12, 13 with the red roundelsor lenses 14, 15respectively and the green roundels 16,

17 respectively. The spectacle -astings disposed to rock on pivot pins13, 19 and are respectively coupled by a connecting rod 20, 21 with therespective arn'iatures 22, 23 out the block relays2el and As pointed outbefore the spectacle castings can easily be operated by the relays sincedue to the small openings oi the elliptic reflectors they may he made sosmall that very little power is required to op erate them. In order tomake the spectacles still more easily movable they are preferably sobalanced that they are nearly in 'cquil' iuin in any position so thatsubstantially 0.. y the necessary power for acccle the masses need besupplied. The respecti v e ta l nds of tl1espectaclestorm contact levers26, i. which in one position when showingagrcenlighasee spectacles 13,bridge over the stationary contacts 28 and 29, and when showing a redlight,

see spectacles 12, close the contacts 30. Each of the block relays 24and 25 possesses two windings 31 and 32, one winding 31 receivingcurrent across the rails of the block section 2 or 3 from thetransformer 33. while the other winding 32 of each relay is connected inseries with the lamps, or at least one out the lamps ot the light signalahead. For instance, in case of relay 24, its winding 32 is connectedin. series with lamp 10 of signal 5. This connection is made across theline 34 and the contacts 30 of signal 5. For the supply of current tothe relays and the signal. lamps two lines 35 and 36 are provided whichmay sin'iultaneously feed the transformers In order to attract itsarmature each relay must have both of its windings energized. The trainis indicated by two axles 3'2 and 38. In this figure the train has justentered the block section 2 and has shirt-circuited the winding 31 ofrelay 2%, the armature 22 of the relay has dropped oil and has placedthe spectacles 12 into the position in which the red roundel 14appearsin frontof the opening of the reflector. In this position ofthe-armature winding 32 of relay 2%- is likewise deenergized, since newcontacts 28, 29 are open, so that this winding cannot receive cur rentfrom mains 35. 36 this way or receive current from these mains by wayo't line 34 atorementioned since contact 30 of signal 5 is then open. Inthis way the block section 2 is protected. The signal lamp 8 receivesnow current from the line 35 across line 39, the contacts 30 on thespectacles 12 and the auxiliary phase of theblock relay in the rear, notillus trated. In the foregoing it assumed that the bloel 3 is clear, thearmature of the relay 25 has been attracted and the green roundel 17 isin front of the reflector ot the signal The lighting current flows herefrom line across the line 4:0 and lamp 11 to the return line 36, or lamp10, line 41, contacts 23 to the return line 36. Naturally the "earth mayequally well. be used as return line.

Referring to Fig. 2 showing the state of the system after the train hasentered the block section 3, it will be observed that the front axile 33of the train has short-circuited the winding 31 of the relay 25, so thatthe armature ot the relay has dropped oil and the red roundel 15 hasappeared in front of the opening of the reflector 5. So long; as one ofthe rear axles 37 oi the train is still within the block section 2 thewinding 31 of the relay 24: remains dead and the armature 22 in thedropped off state. Only when all antics of the train have left the blocksection 2 the winding 31 of the relay 2% receives current again. Therelay can however attract its armature only when the winding; 32 of therelay 2% also receives current. do long as armature 22 of relay 2d hasnot been attracted, its Winding 32 cannot receive current directly frommains 35, 36 by Way of contact 29, then still open. This winding can,however, as aforementioned, receive current across the line 3 and thecontacts 30 oi Slillill 5 provided armature 23 of relay 25 has droppedoff and the signal shows red Should the relay 25 stick or the supply ocurrent to the signal lamp l0 fail, the win oil the relay 2 1- wouldreceive no current and the nal a would continue to show a red light andthus protect the block 3. Only after the armature 23 of the relay 25 hasdropped oil as shown in 2 of the drawing, the winding 32 of the relay2st recees current first along' the following path: line 35, line 4-0,signal lamp 10, line 41, the contacts 30, line 34:, winding line a2 andreturn line Relay 24.- an n w attract its ariinatureand signal Q- willnow sh ow green lightand clear block As soon as the block 3 also becomesclear of the axles of the train, the armature 23 of the relay 2! isattracted again the connection through line 3 lis interrupted and thewint oi relay now receives current GXCll ively along its normal path:line 35, line 43, the contacts 29, line l l, windino' 32, line 42 andthe return. line 3.

If one of the signal lamps, for ins-stance lamp 9 or 11, as shown in thedrawings, is directly connected to the current supply system, this hasthe advantage that when the control; controlled lamp. such as 8 or lOhasburned out or the contact 30 or 28 has failed, the

block signal does not remain completely dark,

but is illuminated by its directly connected posed at the entrance ofeach block and a spectacle device carrying a red and a green roundel,and being movably disposed to place either of said roundels before thelamp, a relay for each block having an armature for operating thepertaining spectacle device, to clear or block its track section, saidrelay having a main energizingwinding connected to the rails of thatblock to be short circuited by a train in that block, and an auxiliarywinding, both windings being required jointly to energize the relay,means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the railsection of each block, and means for con necting the auxiliary windingof the relay of the block signal about to be cleared in series with thesignal lamp of the next block entered by the train when the red roundelof that next block appears before its lamp, to complete the-energization of. said relay, so that even when the first-named block iscleared by the train, the signal clearance of that first block isinitiated by and rendered dependent from the correct blocking signalposition of the newly occupied block.

2. In a. block signal system, in combination a railroad trackelectrically divided into independent block sections, a signal lampdisposed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying ared and a green roundel, and being movably disposed to place either ofsaid roundels before the lamp, a

relay for each block having an armature for operating thepertainingspectacle device, to clear or block its track section, saidrelay having a main energizing winding connected to the rails of thatblock to be short circuited by a train in that block, and an auxiliarywinding, both windings being required jointly to energize the relay,means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the railsection of each block, and a contact device operated by the signalspectacle of the next block entered, and line connections therefor forconnecting the auxiliary Winding of the block signal about to beclearedin series with the signal lamp of the newly entered block when thesignal spectacle of that block shows the red roundel, so that even whenthe firstnamed block is cleared by the train, the sign clearance of thatfirst block is initiated by and rendered dependent from the correctblocking signal position of the newly occupied block.

3. In a block signal system, in combination a railroad trackelectrically divided into in dependent block sections, ai'signal lampdisposed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying ared and a green roun del, and being movablyvdisposed to place either ofsaid roundels betore the lamp, ares lay for each block having anarmature for operating the pertainingspectacle device, to show greenlight when the relay is energized and red light'when it is de-energized,to clear or block its track section, said relay having a main energizingwinding connected to the rails of that block to beshort circuited by atrain in that block, and auxiliarywinding, both windings being requiredjointly to energize the relay, means for supplying current to therelays, signal lamps and to the rail section of each block, and meansfor connccthe signal clearance of that first block is initiated by andrendered dependent from the correct blocking signal position of thenewly occupied block.

l. In a block signal system, in combinatio arailroad track electricallydivided into independent block sections, a signal lamp disposed at theentrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying a red and a greenroundel, and being movably disposed to place either oi said roundelsbefore the lamp, a relay for each block having an armature for operatingthe pertaining spectacle device, to clear or block its track section,said relay having a main energizing winding connected to the rails ofthat block to be short circuited bya train in that block,a nd anauxiliary winding, both windings being required jointly to energize therelay, means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and tothe rail section of each block, and a contact device operated by thesignal spectacle of the next block entered, and line connectionstherefor for connecting the auxiliary Winding of the block signal aboutto be cleared in series with the 7 signal lamp of the newly enteredblock when the signal spectacle oi that block shows the red roundel, sothat even when the firstnamed block is cleared by the train, the signalclearance of that first block is initiated by and rendered dependentfrom the correct blocking signalposition of the newly occupied block,and additional contacts operated by the spectacle of each relay whenfully energized for connecting its own auxiliary winding directly to thecurrent supply to tree the relay from the controlling influence of theblock signal ahead.

5. In a block signal system, in combination a railroad trackelectrically divided into independent block sections, a signal'lampdisposed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying ared and a green roundel, and being movably disposed to place either ofsaid roundels before the lamp, a relay for each block having an armaturefor operating the pertaining spectacle device, to

clear orblock its track section, said relay having a mainenergizing'winding connected to the rails of that block tobe shortcircuited by a train in that block, and an auxiliary Winding, bothwindings being required jointly to energize the relay, means forsupplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the rail section ofeach block, and a contact device operated by the signal spectacle of thenext block entered, and line connections therefor for connecting theauxiliary Winding of the block signal about to be cleared in series Withthe signal lamp of the newly entered block when the signal spectacle ofthat block shows the red roundel, so that even When the first-namedblock is cleared by the train the signal clearance of that first blockis initiated by and rendered dependent from the correct blocking signalposition of the newly occupied block, and additional coir tacts operatedby the spectacle of each relay when fully energized for connecting itsown auxiliary winding directly to the current supply to tree the relayfrom the controlling); influence of the block signal ahead, and furthercontacts also operated by the spectacle oi each relay when fullyenergized for/connecting its own signal lamp directly to the currentsupply.

In testimony Whereoi I ai'lx my signature,

HERMANN riR-NDT.

